Flexible nozzle for vacuum cleaners



Feb. 16, 1937. r w, LEATHERS 2,071,077

FLEXIBLE NOZZLE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Feb. 24, 1936 WMNVEZZ ATTORNEY.

Patented F eb. 16, 1937 v UNITED .ISTATESQV I 2.071.077 FLEXIBLE NOZZLE FOR. VACUUM CLEANERS Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. J.,

Quadrex Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

' poration of Delaware assignor to I a cor- Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,394

3 Claims.

The general object of my invention is to produce an improved type of flexible nozzle for vacuumcleaners. It applies more particularly to the kind of vacuum cleaner where the motor-suctionunit is rigid with the operating handle, the same being more fully set forth in my United States patents granted and other applications pending therefor. It also applies to cleaning tools for use on the end of a cleaning hose. I

This specification is a continuation in part of my application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 713,347, filed February 28, 1934.

It is desirable that a nozzle for the type of cleaner referred to should be removable as well as flexible. Hence it is desirable that a suitable intake connection may be made with the cleaner, such as by a hollow conical member. In order to join such member to the rigid cross piece of a cleaning nozzle by flexible means, it is desirable that such connecting means be compact in size, be firmly joined to both cone and cross-member, and be disposed in such manner as to be wholly free from interfering with the free flow of air, and thus avoiding the risk of clogging with nap and litter from carpet and floor. My flexible nozzle makes it possible to bump the cleaner against furniture without damage to furniture or cleaner. "It also gives substantial cleaning advantages in modulating suction and air flow at the nozzle intake. A very practical and approved means of accomplishing these purposes is the specific object of this invention.

In order to set forth my invention in terms understandable to those familiar with these arts, I have prepared this specification and appended drawing hereto, of which:--- I Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of my removable, flexible nozzle.

Figure 2 is a front view of same.

Figure 3 is a front view of a rigid cross member.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of spring and cone-connecter.

Figure 5 illustrates a type ofsuction cleaner to which my nozzle is best adapted.

A tapered cone I, Figures 1, 2 and 3, is used as a connector for the nozzle assembly 2 to the motor-suction-unit 3 (see Figure 5) of the suction cleaner 4. To the cone-connecter I may be joined leaf spring 5 and/or a leaf spring 6. One or the other, or both, may be used for the desired purposes. The springs 5 and 6 are joined at their lower ends to a rigid cross-member I, preferably a die-casting. The member I is a hollow trough-like piece provided with two side walls, two ends, an open top and a cleaning slot in the bottom. The entire nozzle is covered by a;

rubber boot 8. Suitable wheels I0 may be provided on the end of the nozzle as desired. These may be rigidly joined thereto, or may be elasother manner, as in the case of thecone-connecter, for example, by means of spot welding. In the case of a non-removable nozzle the springs 5 or 6 or both may be suitably joined to the motor-blower-unit 3 (see Figure 5). I prefer, however, for experience reasons, to use the for illustrated in Figure 4.

Here the spring 5 lies substantially flush with I the inside face of the rubber housing 8, and is the sole means of joining the cone-connecter I with the cross-member I. The spring 5 is so formed in its upper portion I2 that the curvature for fitting to the cone-connecter is carried downward therefrom, developing a slightly domelike form I2, the lower point of which is in the center of the spring. This form serves to distribute the strains in the spring 5 in such manner that it enormously reduces breakage risk. In order to provide a practically unbreakable juncture between the spring 5 and the cone I, especially where the cone is made of tubing, I have found it most desirable to place the spring between the cylindrical portion of the cone-connecter I and an inner cylindrical ring I3. After the three parts are forced together, spot welding, as at l4, joins all three together integrally and inseparably.

Thus I have invented a means of producing a practical, light weight, flexible nozzle of the type set forth wherein the parts and junctures may withstand the very great strain to which they are subjected, retain the much desired yieldability for the purposes set forth and furfnish no interruption to the flow of air and no possible chance of stoppage due to the lodgment of napf strings, litter and the like.

In the preferred form (Figure 4) the spring 5, being on the forward side of the nozzle, reinforces the inside of the rubber housing 8 in the area on which the nozzle must perpetually receive blows while in service. A single spring on the rearward side, while being functioningly operable, does not provide the above mentioned advantage.

My nozzle is also especially practical and applicable as a cleaning tool when used on the end of an extension tube joined to a flexible cleaning hose.

Having set forth my invention in an approved mechanical form, it should be understood that there are many ways and means of accomplishing some of the purposes for which this invention is made, without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a rigid mouth portion having two side walls and a. suction cleaning port on' its under surface, a substantially flat spring firmly joined at its lower end to a side wall of said mouth portion and firmly joined at its upper end to means for attaching the nozzle to the inlet port of a vacuum cleaner, a flexible cover surrounding the cross-member and spring forming a substantially air-tight air conveyor from cleaning port to inlet of said vacuum cleaner, and with said spring substantially conforming to the inner wall of the said flexible cover.

2. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a rigid mouth portion having two side walls and a. suction cleaning-port on its under surface, a substantially flat spring firmly joined at its lower end to a side wall of said mouth portion and firmly joined at its upper end between two substantially cylindrical co-axial and concentric pieces, one of which is the means for attaching the nozzle to the inlet port of a suction cleaner and a flexible cover surrounding said mouth portion and spring forming a substantially air-tight air conveyor from cleaning port to inlet of the vacuum cleaner.

3. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a. rigid mouth portion having two side walls and a suction cleaning port on its under surface, a substantially fiat spring firmly joined at its lower end to a side wall of said mouth portion and firmly joined at its upper end between two substantially cylindrical, coaxial and concentric pieces, one of which is the means for attaching the nozzle to the inlet port of a suction cleaner, and a flexible cover surrounding said mouth-portion and spring forming a substantially air-tight air conveyor from cleaning port to inlet of the vacuum cleaner and with said spring substantially conforming to the inner wall of said flexible cover.

WARD LEATHERS. 

